Department for Transport

*No heading*

baroness randerson: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that Train Operating Companies deal with passenger complaints promptly and thoroughly.

lord callanan: Passenger train operators must have a licence granted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The licence requires the operator to establish and comply with a complaints handling procedure (CHP) setting out how they handle complaints from customers. The CHP, which has to be approved by the ORR, should include that passengers who are unhappy with the outcome of their complaint can contact Transport Focus (TF) or where appropriate, London TravelWatch (LTW), who may be able to pursue the complaint on their behalf. ORR reserves the right to carry out detailed annual reviews of licence holders where there is evidence of systemic issues not being addressed or a significant decrease in service performance. They will continue to monitor individual CHPs for compliance and effectiveness using evidence including information on the number, type and underlying cause of complaints and feedback from TF and LTW. My honourable Friend the Rail Minister (Paul Maynard) has also been leading discussions with industry and consumer bodies about introducing a rail ombudsman that would improve the passenger voice in rail and provide independent binding resolution of complaints. He anticipates being in a position to provide a further update by the end of the summer when this work has been further developed.

*No heading*

lord berkeley: Her Majesty's Government whether the European Train Control System to be installed on high speed lines either side of the Channel Tunnel is compatible with those lines in all respects; and whether they intend to ensure that those plans are maintained as part of the Brexit negotiations.

lord callanan: Officials at the Department for Transport are working with both the French Government and industry to ensure that when the European Train Control System (ETCS) signalling is fitted on the high speed lines in both France and the UK it will be compatible with the ETCS system in the tunnel. Before ETCS is fitted on all three networks, trains using the tunnel will have to have more than one on board signalling systems (ie a Tunnel compatible one and an ETCS one) and there will be a handover between the systems as they move from one piece of infrastructure to another. The UK Government is considering what specific provisions need to be part of any exit agreement to ensure continuity of services using the tunnel.

*No heading*

lord berkeley: Her Majesty's Government what is the clear opening width of the single door opening on the new Stadler intercity coaches for Anglia services; how this compares with the clear opening door widths of the two door intercity coaches they will replace; and how the planned station dwell time with single door openings compares with that for existing coaches with two doors.

lord callanan: The specification of the new trains for the Greater Anglia franchise will need to deliver the requirements and obligations as set out in the Greater Anglia Franchise Agreement. The detailed design and specification of door widths and station dwell times are operational matters for the operator.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

*No heading*

baroness mcgregor-smith: Her Majesty's Government whether they have published, or intend to publish, plans that show the long-term outlook for each industry in the UK post-Brexit, in particular the services industries.

lord prior of brampton: The Government is committed to securing a new, deep and special partnership with the EU to support the long-term success of UK industry post-Brexit.The Government has already taken the opportunity to publish the Industrial Strategy Green Paper which builds on our strengths and prepares us for the years ahead. Part of our approach is to use “sector deals” to transform and upgrade sectors based on proposals from industry. These sector deals will be open to all parts of the economy, established and emerging sectors, and to businesses of all sizes.The Government is currently analysing the responses to its Green Paper and will publish the outcome in due course.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

*No heading*

baroness tonge: Her Majesty's Government whether they have put any pressure on the government of Israel to investigate the reported abduction and torture of Bashar Ghazal, an eight year old child from Jenin

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​We have not raised these reports with the Israeli authorities.

Northern Ireland Office

*No heading*

lord empey: Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to review the right of polling agents appointed by candidates, or by their election agents, to enter polling stations in Northern Ireland.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Electoral Commission will report on the administration of the recent UK Parliamentary Election and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland will conduct a routine post-election review of all administrative procedures, including procedures at polling stations. The Government will consider any recommendations arising from the Chief Electoral Officer and the Electoral Commission carefully.

Department for International Development

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government what plans they, and international organisations, have to benefit the estimated 13 million children in the Middle East who according to UNICEF's 2015 report Eduction Under Firelack access to schools; and what new educational provision is being made through radio and TV.

lord bates: The UK Government is playing a leading role in reaching out-of-school children affected by conflict in the Middle East. At the London Syria Conference in 2016, the international community committed to providing quality education to all 1.4 million refugee and vulnerable host community children by the end of the 2016/7 school year. By April 2017, 1 million children were benefitting.In Lebanon, DFID’s four-year education programme will help 147,000 children enrol in formal education and 100,000 in non-formal education, and improve teaching and learning standards for all children in school. In Jordan, DFID’s four-year education programme helps provide formal education for 193,000 Syrian children. The UK also contributes to the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, which has provided access to education for almost half a million Syrian children. In the wider Middle East, the UK funds UNICEF to provide education as part of humanitarian appeals.The UK has also supported the establishment of a new Education Cannot Wait fund to improve education in crises, with Yemen and Syria each benefitting.DFID does not fund education provision through radio and TV in the Middle East.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

*No heading*

lord grocott: The Senior Deputy Speaker,  in the event of a vacancy occuring among the 75 hereditary peers who are elected by party or Crossbench groups, how many members would form the electorate for (1) a Conservative vacancy, (2) a Crossbench vacancy, (3) a Liberal Democrat vacancy, and (4) a Labour vacancy.

lord mcfall of alcluith: If there were a vacancy at present the electorate in each of the groups would be:(1) 48 Conservative hereditary peers for a Conservative vacancy,(2) 30 Crossbench hereditary peers for a Crossbench vacancy,(3) 3 Liberal Democrat hereditary peers for a Liberal Democrat vacancy, and(4) 3 Labour hereditary peers for a Labour vacancy.If a vacancy occurs amongst the 15 hereditary peers originally elected by the whole House to serve as office-holders, the electorate is all members of the House.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

*No heading*

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Premier League’s proposed changes to its Owners and Directors Test which will permit the blocking of prospective owners who have engaged in Disqualifying Events such as the provision of false, misleading or inaccurate financial information; and what consideration they have given to applying similar changes to the "fit and proper" tests for other industries.

lord ashton of hyde: We welcome the changes Premier League clubs have recently agreed that tighten the conditions around suitability of ownership. It is essential that football clubs are properly protected and that means ensuring that those entrusted with their care be subject to the very highest levels of legal and financial scrutiny.  The UK operates a regime which is able to disqualify unfit directors from acting in the promotion, formation and management of limited companies (other than with the permission of the court) for up to fifteen years in appropriate cases.

Department for Work and Pensions

Voting Rights: British Nationals Abroad

baroness thomas of winchester: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have allocated £22 million to hire new presenting officers to support them at disability benefit tribunals.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), what would be the estimated administrative costs of extending the voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), how many additional people would be enfranchised by extending voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), what would be the estimated administrative costs of extending the voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord young of cookham: I refer the noble Lord to the reply Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen gave him on Wednesday 9 November 2016 to HL2721 and HL2722.

*No heading*

baroness meacher: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to initiate a cross-departmental review of funeral poverty tomake recommendations for reform.

baroness buscombe: Bereavement is a very distressing and difficult time. The Government is committed to working with local authorities, funeral directors and groups helping bereaved people to ensure that funeral services meet the needs of vulnerable people. It will continue to consider this issue in the context of discussions with these organisations.

*No heading*

baroness thomas of winchester: Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that Personal Independent Payment assessors receive appropriate training to allow them to take a holistic approach to a claimant's assessment.

baroness buscombe: All Health Professionals (HPs) working on the delivery of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments must be either an occupational therapist, level 1 nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic or doctor. They must also be fully registered and have at least two years’ post full-registration experience. In addition to their profession, the Department recognises the importance of ensuring that individuals also have sufficient experience, skills and training to carry out their duties and PIP providers are required to ensure that the HPs carrying out assessments have knowledge of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments. All new assessors complete one month of intensive training in disability analysis which includes a functional evaluation as to how medical conditions and the long-term medical treatment of those conditions affect an individual’s ability to perform day-to-day activities. This is followed by on-going professional training and support which continues for the duration of their employment in the role. Final approval to work as a health assessor must be conferred by the Department for Work and Pension’s Chief Medical Adviser on behalf of the Secretary of State.

HM Treasury

*No heading*

lord myners: Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to review the Barnett formula.

lord bates: The government remains committed to the Barnett formula, which is designed to ensure that devolved administrations are funded to deliver their priorities within their devolved responsibilities.

Cabinet Office

*No heading*

lord ouseley: Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed public inquiry into the Grenfell House fire will consider the effects and impact of the deregulation of the building industry during the last decade.

lord young of cookham: I refer the noble Lord to the Prime Minister's written Ministerial statement of 29 June 2017.

*No heading*

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), how many additional people would be enfranchised by extending voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), how many additional people would be enfranchised by extending voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), what would be the estimated administrative costs of extending the voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord grocott: Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer byLord Young of Cookham (HL Deb, col 1269–1271), what would be the estimated administrative costs of extending the voting rights from 15 years to life for UK citizens permanently resident abroad.

lord young of cookham: I refer the noble Lord to the reply Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen gave him on Wednesday 9 November 2016 to HL2721 and HL2722.

*No heading*

lord greaves: Her Majesty's Government whether the timetable for the changes to parliamentary constituency boundaries is proceeding as previously planned, and if so, what the next stage will be; and when it will take place.

lord young of cookham: The Government's manifesto re-affirms the commitment to deliver equal and updated boundaries and reduce the size of the House of Commons.The conduct of the current boundary review, which is proceeding in accordance with the laws already passed by Parliament, is a matter for the independent and impartial Boundary Commissions. Further information can be found on the websites for each of the four Boundary Commissions.

Department of Health

*No heading*

baroness watkins of tavistock: Her Majesty's Government what change in funding in England for continued professional development for Registered Nurses took place in 2016/17; and what steps they are taking to address the situation.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Department does not hold this information centrally. Responsibility for ongoing post registration Professional Development lies with individual employers.

*No heading*

lord roberts of llandudno: Her Majesty's Government how many NHS staff members are from (1) EU member states other than the UK, and (2) countries outside the EU.

lord o'shaughnessy: NHS Digital publishes data on the nationality of staff working in the National Health Service in England. Nationality is self-reported within the NHS human resources and payroll system, the electronic staff record.As of 31 March 2017, latest data available, there are now 61,934 (headcount) European Union nationals (excluding the United Kingdom), or 5.2% employed in the NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups. There are 75,450 other overseas nationals, or 6.4% employed in the NHS. 80,822 NHS staff records do not contain nationality data, with people either choosing not to specify their nationality or not asked to.

*No heading*

the countess of mar: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, on 24 April (HC70973), when and how the Commission on Human Medicines "thoroughly review the data" on human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine adverse reactions.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) is the Government’s scientific advisory committee, from which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seeks independent scientific advice. The CHM considered a thorough review of the safety of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at its meeting on 16 July 2015. Prior to 2015, the CHM considered reviews of HPV vaccine at meetings in September 2012, September 2010, September 2009, June 2009 and February 2009. These reviews included evaluation of United Kingdom Yellow Card reports, analysis of data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), published safety studies and safety data from other countries.Most recently, the CHM considered the safety of HPV vaccine at its meeting on 15 October 2015. At this meeting, the MHRA sought advice from the CHM on the (Co)-Rapporteurs’ assessment reports prepared for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) review into reports of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome following HPV vaccine, in order to inform the UK position in the review. As with all vaccines and medicines, the safety of HPV vaccine remains under continual review by the MHRA.

*No heading*

the countess of mar: Her Majesty's Government who advised the Commission on Human Medicines that the available evidence does not support a causal association between HPV vaccination and development of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) according to the Commission's minutes of 15–16 October 2015; and why this statement was made before the European Medicines Agency Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) reported on 21 October 2015.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) is the Government’s scientific advisory committee, from which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seeks independent scientific advice. Following a review of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine safety on 16 July 2015, the CHM advised the MHRA that the available evidence does not support a causal association between HPV vaccination and development of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), as well as other chronic illnesses. The public minutes of this meeting were made available online on 18 November 2015. At its meeting on 15 October 2015, the MHRA sought advice from the CHM on the (Co)-Rapporteurs’ assessment reports prepared for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) review into reports of POTS and CRPS following HPV vaccine, in order to inform the United Kingdom position in the review. The public minutes of this meeting were made available online on 21 December 2015. The CHM did not make a statement in October in advance of the EMA’s Scientific Advisory Group meeting. The CHM’s minutes were published on the above dates in line with usual practice and have informed the MHRA’s responses to enquiries about the safety of HPV vaccine.